How to Lead UX Like a Pro! Lessons from Santhosh Ragalpavi Balasubramaniam, S5, Ep. 5

In this episode, we are joined by Santhosh Ragalpavi Balasubramaniam, a seasoned UX leader, design thinking facilitator, and founder of UX Ahead. With experience leading digital transformations for global brands like BP, HSBC, and SAP, he shares insights on inclusive design, UX leadership, and the evolving role of individual contributors in enterprise environments.


Discussion points:

~ What was your journey like when you decided to become a designer? Who inspired you, and how did you get here? 3:51
~ Is a formal degree essential for a UX career, especially in regions like India, where company policies may require it? 18:33
~ Rapid fire round 24:44
~ Whenever the discussion arises about being an in-house designer versus an agency designer, it often gets framed as working at a startup or freelancing—how do you see this distinction, and do you think it's that simple? 31:01
~ Being on the strategy side, are you ever tempted to pursue a role like Director of UX, Chief Design Officer, or Design Principal?40:10
~ What advice would you give to aspiring UX professionals on choosing the right career path? 42:16

Show notes:

~ As an individual contributor, you may not have decision-making authority, but you still need to influence decisions and drive collaboration across teams.
~ Design is not just about making things look good; it’s about solving real problems for users and businesses alike.
~ Early on, businesses didn’t understand why they needed UX. They just wanted a website or a brochure without considering the actual user needs.
~ A designer’s job isn’t just to take requirements and create something in isolation—it’s about understanding the business, the users, and bridging that gap.
~ The biggest challenge for UX professionals is not just mastering tools, but developing the ability to collaborate, influence, and educate stakeholders.
~ Chasing job titles won’t make you a better designer. Focus on what you can learn and how you can apply your skills in real-world scenarios. 
~ Mindset is key in design. You have to detach from your work, accept feedback, and always remember that design is about the user, not the designer.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/santhoshrb/
www.uxahead.com/